One of the most beguiling features of the Blue Hill Inn is its in-town location. Guests can enjoy a sparkling blueberry cocktail at the inn during our hors d’oeuvres hour and then walk to a lovely dinner and not worry about having to drive home after a nice bottle of wine.

Kneisel Hall is also within walking distance of the inn but the last little bit is uphill and I wanted to walk there again thinking about our guests to see what they might think. So off I went to the Sunday afternoon program of Beethoven's sonata for cello and piano in G minor, Op. 5, No. 2; Kodaly's duo of violin and cello, Op. 7; and Faure's piano quartet No. 2 in G minor, Op. 45. Jane Coop, one of Canada's leading pianists; Jerry Grossman, principal cellist with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; and violinist Laurie Smukler, professor at the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College (SUNY) were among the performers. Magic!

Kneisel Hall, the Bagaduce Lending Library and the Blue Hill Inn are all touted in 1,000 Places to See in the U.S.A. and Canada Before You Die.The three institutions are raffling off prizes this summer in celebration. If you'd like to enter and you won't be in town, let me know and I can put your information in the raffle bowl.

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival can trace its origins to 1902 when Franz Kneisel, founder of the first professional string quartet in America, began bringing students to Maine for summer study. It is the oldest summer chamber music programs in the United States--and walking distance from the inn! Under the artistic direction of pianist Seymour Lipkin, the 2008 season runs through August 24 with concerts every weekend and many musical events during the week.

The lending library, under the current directorship of Susan Theriot, began in 1983. It is one of the world’s largest music libraries. And more music is being added all the time. Their collection includes over 2 million copies of printed scores and sheet music. Visitors can stop by to browse the collection and search for bargains in our sale bins. For the non-musical (such as myself), they have great note cards and sheet music with fabulous illustrations that are frame-worthy.

Louise Bourne stopped by with some postcards of her paintings--I love the feel of this one. Her gallery is a short drive from the inn.

"Short blog entries are better." But I still have to tell you about the rock and roller who stayed here recently, and about picking berries from our very own strawberry patch (doesn't a very fresh, very local strawberry dipped in dark chocolate and finished with crushed pistachio nuts sound like the perfect pillow chocolate? If you were here tonight, that would be on your pillow!)

Cindy Bullens is the musician. She has a place on North Haven Island, which inspired her to collaborate on a musical, Islands: The Musical. After listening to a snippet of "Jellico Highway," I had to order a CD from her new band, the Refugees. Enjoy!